August 16 – 2 Samuel 3:6-11

August 16 – 2 Samuel 3:6-11

[6] While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. [7] Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” [8] Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. [9] God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, [10] to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” [11] And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

Once again we see a power struggle between the two houses of power. Abner asserts that he will serve the house of David. Abner transfers his allegiance to David for the wrong reason. He is personally offended when Ish-boseth makes this accusation and that is the basis for him leaving Saul’s house. Instead, he could have left for the right reason; God wanted David to be king.

Abner knew the truth of the situation. He knew that God’s spirit had left Saul and yet he continued to live as if that were not fact. May we examine our own lives and be sure we are living God’s truths daily.